The Emotional Advantages of a Family Bed

One of the crucial components of attachment parenting is the family bed. This makes reference to the sharing of sleeping space among family members, and particularly denotes a mother being physically close to her newborn throughout the night. “Co-sleeping” refers to sleeping near one’s baby or child, as well as can simply mean sleeping in the same room; “bed-sharing,” on the other hand, is honestly that – family members sleep in the same bed. For that reason, the family bed doesn’t have to be a single enormous bed; it can be any layout is most effective for a family that fosters attachment.

A family bed provides a number of physical as well as developmental benefits, with a handful of cross-overs. Among the developmental benefits will be increased confidence on the part of the baby, emotional well-being for the mom, and also a strong relationship between parent and child (thus setting the stage for healthy relationships later in life). Following is a list of these benefits discussed in additional detail.

1. Confidence
A baby does not understand that you are still “there” while he is sleeping in a different room. He could become terrified and distrustful if he wakes at night and his mom is not available. A infant who has his needs fulfilled regularly – day or night – learns to have faith in his mother and father. The family bed makes the mom available to breastfeed the child or simply offer bodily contact. The baby therefore comes to have confidence in his parents and develops a sense of security.

2. If mama’s not happy…
Have you ever heard the saying, “If Mama’s not happy, then nobody’s happy”? There is a handful of truth to that statement! A mom who participates in the family bed gets extra sleep compared to a mother who will get up many times throughout the night, thus making her refreshed as well as in a much better mood. Also, a mother’s nursing throughout the night creates “happy hormones” that bond her with her baby and make her feel content.

3. Relationship
The family bed builds strong relationships. For moms or fathers who work all day, this could end up being the only occasion they get to have physical “cuddle time” with their child. And, once again, the family bed allows for the breastfeeding relationship, which encourages important, beneficial bonds which set the stage for healthy, functional relationships later on in life.

4. The human pacemaker
While this is a bodily benefit, its psychological ramifications are important. Statistics show that children who sleep in a family bed set up are far less likely to pass away of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) than those infants left to sleep alone (this is why SIDS is also called “crib death” or “cot death”). In nations where bed-sharing is common (like India), SIDS is essentially not known.

If a child has SIDS, she simply stops breathing inexplicably. Research from as far back as the mid-1900s have demonstrated that children that sleep together with their mothers actually match their breathing patterns to the mother’s – she is like a human pacemaker for her baby’s breathing. Current study supports these studies from the first half of the 20th century.

Even while modern society is still coming to terms with accepting the family bed, the crucial thing is to choose what is appropriate for your family. There are numerous benefits to the family bed, and many nay-sayers are merely unaware of these advantages.